Medal Collections

Christy Ring Collection

If one player was guaranteed a place in every hurling connoisseur’s team of the millenium, it was sure to have been the greatest hurler that ever lived, Christy Ring. Quite simply, he won everything the game had to offer, many times.
Having already won 3 All-Irelands, his classic solo run goals in the 1944 Munster Final and 1946 All Ireland Finals, established him as one of the greats.
Arguably, his greatest ever performance came in 1951 versus Tipperary where he switched from center forward to midfield and delivered an astonishing performance.
Christy’s 24 year career saw him victorious in one minor All-Ireland, four National League finals, 18 approx County’s with the Glen and a record 18 Railway Cup victories with Munster. The most significant part of his medal collection is that of his unprecedented 8 All Ireland Championship medals. An outstanding save from Wexford Cúl Báire Art Foley in the 1956 decider denied Ring a record 9th medal.

Jimmy Doyle Collection

Jimmy Doyle, honoured in the Hurling Team of the Millennium, has won 9 out of 13 All-Irelands (3 Minor, 6 Senior). Jimmy Doyle began his career as a goalkeeper before finding his true calling in the inside forward line. He made history in 1957 when he participated in his fourth consecutive All-Ireland minor final having appeared in his first at the tender age of 14. The following year he won his first Senior All-Ireland Final medal when Tipperary defeated Galway 4-9 to 2-5. In 1961 his individual talents were recognised when he was presented with the 'Texaco Hurler of the Year Award'. The following year he captained Tipperary to victory, although due to injury he did not get to lift the cup. He had the honour of lifting the Liam McCarthy Cup in the 1965 All-Ireland hurling final when Tipperary were victorious over Wexford.
In 1971 an injury-prone Doyle appeared for the last 10 minutes of that year’s All-Ireland decider against Kilkenny and for the sixth time was victorious. He played his last senior game for Tipperary in the Munster Championship of 1973 against Waterford, as stand-in goalkeeper.

Jack Lynch Collection

Jack Lynch first visited Croke Park as a spectator in 1931. His ability with the Camán and sliotar ensured that he would grace the hallowed turf as a player on many occasions after that. Jack was of a breed that is all too rare in the modern CLG , namely the dual player. His talents were rewarded with 7 All Ireland finals between the years of 1941 and 1947. Liam McCarthys returned to the Lee-side on 5 occasions from 1941-’44 and again in 1946 with the Sam Maguire arriving in 1945. Yet Cork’s defeat in the thunder and lightning final of 1939 is his most treasured memory, as it set the stage for the mighty Cork team of the 40ies.
Mr. Lynch described hurling as typifying the Irish character, requiring skill, courage speed of thought and an all out action approach. He himself excelled in all departments thus ensuring his place in this prestigious team.

Noel Skehan Collection

In 1983 Noel Skehan won a record breaking 9th All-Ireland Senior Hurling medal. Three of them were won as a substitute to Ollie Walsh in 1963, 1967 and 1969. The remaining six were won in 1972, 1974, 1975, 1979, 1982 and 1983. He won an All-Ireland Minor Hurling Medal in 1962.

Peter McDermott Collection

Peter McDermott holds the unique record of participation in six All-Ireland finals between 1949 and 1954-five in succession. First of all, he was on the great winning Meath side of 1949, the initial great breakthrough of the Meath men. Two years later he was again in the Meath colours in an All-Ireland final but this time they lost to Mayo. In 1952 he was on the side that drew with Cavan but lost the replay (two finals). The following year he appeared in a different category, when he refereed the Kerry v Armagh All-Ireland decider. But 1954 saw his real day of glory when he captained Meath to their second great All-Ireland triumph.

Timmy Ryan Collection

During his playing career which spanned the ‘Golden Days’ of Limerick hurling, Timmy Ryan won every honour the game of hurling could bestow on him, - All-Ireland Senior medals in 1934, 1936 and 1940, five Munster Senior medals, five National League medals, one Oireachtas medal, thirteen County Senior Hurling medals, five County Senior Football medals and two County Junior Hurling medals with Ahane, and five Railway Cup medals with Munster. In addition he captained Limerick to win the Owen Ward Cup outright at Woolwich Stadium in London in 1935 and he was also at the helm during the American Tour of 1936 when Limerick won the magnificent Reeves Trophy by beating New York 6-8 to 0-3.